Man charged in state trooper's death had cannabis in system, tried to pass on shoulder when his car struck cop, prosecutors say

Law enforcement officers from around the state gather Friday at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington for the funeral of Illinois State Police Trooper Christopher Lambert, who was killed at an accident along I-294 on Jan. 12, 2019.

(Chicago Tribune)

Brian L. CoxChicago Tribune

A Skokie courtroom was packed with uniformed Illinois State Police officials Tuesday afternoon as a Wisconsin man made his first local appearance on charges that his car struck and killed Trooper Christopher Lambert.

Authorities allege that Scott A. Larsen, of Kenosha, had cannabis in his system and attempted to use the left shoulder to pass an accident scene when he struck Lambert, who had exited his police vehicle to man the scene of two earlier crashes along I-294 near Northbrook on Jan. 12 during a snowstorm.

Larsen, identified by his attorney as an accountant, has been charged with felony reckless homicide in connection to Lambert’s death, and on Tuesday was ordered to be held on a $250,000 bond.

Larsen has also been charged with violating Scott’s Law, which increases potential penalties for those who fail to reduce speed and stay clear of stopped emergency vehicles with their lights on. Named for Chicago Fire Department Lt. Scott Gillen, who was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver on the Dan Ryan Expressway, the charge could add three to 14 years to a sentence should Larsen be convicted of the charges.

Lambert, 34, had completed his shift and was on his way home to Highland Park when he stopped to provided assistance, parking his cruiser in the left lane to protect the motorists who were stopped, authorities have said. Lambert, an Ohio native and Army veteran who had served in Iraq, left behind a wife and young daughter, and hundreds of people attended his funeral at Willow Creek Community Church.

Illinois State Police

Scott A. Larson, of Kenosha, Wis., is charged with reckless homicide after police say he drove into Illinois State Police Trooper Christopher Lambert investigating a crash on Interstate 294.

Scott A. Larson, of Kenosha, Wis., is charged with reckless homicide after police say he drove into Illinois State Police Trooper Christopher Lambert investigating a crash on Interstate 294. (Illinois State Police)

According to prosecutors, Larsen was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee and was clocked going 71 mph in a 60 mph zone when he crossed the Touhy Toll Plaza, about 12 miles south of where the crash occurred.

Prosecutors said Larsen attempted to pass the accident scene, driving on the left shoulder between the median wall and the left driving lane, when he struck Lambert. The impact of the crash sent the trooper sailing into the air, and he was pronounced dead from his injuries later in the hospital.

Larsen’s vehicle also struck Lambert’s squad car and other cars that were stopped on the shoulder, according to prosecutors and the criminal complaint against Larsen.

Larsen was also hospitalized after the crash, and authorities said he was found to have cannabis in his system. He also admitted to authorities that he had vaped the drug the previous day, and a vaping pipe was found in his car, prosecutors said.

“The loss of life in this case is indeed a tragedy,” said defense attorney Ron Neville, who argued that his client was not a flight risk and asked the court to grant him permission to drive to work.

The judge refused the request, ordering Larsen to surrender his passport and driver’s license, and told him he is prohibited from driving should he be released on bond.

Illinois State Police Maj. David Byrd, who was among dozens of troopers assembled in the Cook County courtroom, said the group turned out to show their support for their fallen colleague and for other troopers who risk their lives to keep roads safe in the current dangerous weather conditions.